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4.36 AVERAGE
4.36 AVERAGE
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Pachinko is hard to read in a good way. The struggles of a migrant family, the discrimination they face, alongside the shame that comes with, spread across generations, all come back here. They are still today's struggles of a migrant family. At least, it felt like a mirror to my own experiences as a second gen. This put into contrast against the backdrop of the history of Korea and the split between North and South and its difficult relationship and suppression with and by Japan the book just cuts into so many topics that are not discussed, not talked about or ignored within migrant families because survival comes first and identity second, because swallowing pride is easier, or because of something as simple as a language barrier already existing between the first children born in the new country and the parents who arrive with a heart full of hope at the cost of realising that, the country they left and the new country will ever be 'home' to them again or ever.
been a while since i read a historical fiction book and this story was a great way to ease back into the genre. the writing was an amazing telling of seemingly ordinary people and families, but it was overall beautiful and heartbreaking. made me reflect a lot on the stories of so many people who have lived through situations not so different than these. feeling emotional but also encouraged by the strength of those who have endured loss, change, and yearn to feel belonging in foreign places.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is one of those books that seems so universal despite its very particular historical context. Maybe I'm just saying this coming from an immigrant family (curious as to how non-immigrants relate to this book) but the themes this book span across things like honor, loyalty, faith and identity. Still, Lee focuses the narrative around this constant clash between fate and agency - asking the reader to question what choices do our characters have in the context of their environment, how much control do they really have over their lives?
Though the writing was very simple and had nothing really standout - the storyline and execution was very compelling and lead me to a lot of introspection. I think the characters do often times feel a little muted, not very expressive, but perhaps that's just a harsh reality of living through WWII and under Japanese subjugation.
The story is frequently broken up with perspective from side characters which I can't really place the purpose of other than to emphasize how the political and social pressures of the era motivated people. The passages regarding Haruki's wife seemed a bit throwaway for example. I guess I do appreciate how Lee fleshes out many of these side characters, illustrating how complicated everyone's lives are even while we're dealing with our own stories.
Though the writing was very simple and had nothing really standout - the storyline and execution was very compelling and lead me to a lot of introspection. I think the characters do often times feel a little muted, not very expressive, but perhaps that's just a harsh reality of living through WWII and under Japanese subjugation.
The story is frequently broken up with perspective from side characters which I can't really place the purpose of other than to emphasize how the political and social pressures of the era motivated people. The passages regarding Haruki's wife seemed a bit throwaway for example. I guess I do appreciate how Lee fleshes out many of these side characters, illustrating how complicated everyone's lives are even while we're dealing with our own stories.
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
wow!!!!!!! a book i will be thinking about forever. really drops you in the action and doesn’t stop the whole book!!! crazy stuff happens but it’s highly realistic, beautiful writing, wonderful long book to sink your teeth into
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes